Rallies Stand Up for Christine Blasey Ford as Future of Supreme Court at Stake

Update October 6: Kavanaugh Is Sworn In After Close Confirmation Vote in Senate

The eyes and ears of the country were on Capitol Hill when Christine Blasey Ford testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee against Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh on September 27. On the same day, on the other side of the country in Palo Alto, California, neighbors, friends, and colleagues of Dr. Ford rallied to her support with cries of "We Believe Christine!" During the second half of September and into early October, actions in Berkeley, San Francisco, San Mateo, Mountain View and elsewhere demonstrated the Bay Area's commitment to supporting victims of sexual assault and defeating the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh as well.

On September 23, at least 2,000 people flocked to the busy El Camino Real intersection in front of Stanford University. What was originally planned to be a small silent vigil grew to a noisy outpouring of support for the Stanford-connected Dr. Ford. The same day, speakers at a demo in San Francisco said Kavanaugh’s behavior disqualifies him from an appointment to Supreme Court and called for the elimination of the Republican rape culture. In Berkeley, By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), a national organization dedicated to building a new mass civil rights movement, organized a march and rally on the UC campus on September 27. A major demonstration in the nation's capital will be held with a sister rally in San Mateo on October 6.

BAMN writes: Today, Kavanaugh’s nomination presents a test of the #Metoo movement that has come forward against Trump’s misogyny, his promotion and defense of sexual assault that has been central to his political platform. As long as Donald Trump, as Abuser-in-Chief, remains in office, misogynist men like Kavanaugh will feel they have a green light to attack, harass, objectify and abuse women.